A few weeks ago it looked like we were going to have the earliest spring ever. It briefly got up into the 60s and low 70s, birds and frogs were singing, wildflowers began appearing, and leaves were starting to open a month ahead of schedule.

Then came some major cold snaps, including below-freezing temps at night in the mountains, which isn’t unusual in the early days of spring. Not surprisingly, the effect was to slow spring’s progress down to a snail’s pace for a couple of weeks.

Much milder temperatures have since returned, which is what countless plants and flowers have clearly been waiting for, and now there’s no stopping the season’s advance. The natural world is finally turning a lovely long-awaited lush green.

Regarding the weather, until recently we had a number of forecasts for rain, common in spring, yet actual rainfall has been way below normal so far this season. We did have one hike with limited rain on 4/2, and there were several other times when rain was predicted but we only saw a few sprinkles, or it stayed dry.

Our trip reservations typically take a leap during April, and that’s exactly what’s been happening -- with signs that spring fever may be reaching an epidemic stage among lovers-of-the-outdoors. Might that include you? Are you ready for some large doses of fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and nature’s gifts? Ready to enjoy?!